Noodle cutting machine



Nov. 5, 1940. c. AMBRETTE NOODLE CUTTING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1940 4Sheets-Sheepl \MWM IN VENTOR.

BY izmijmjm ATTORNEY.

Nov. 5, 1940. c. AMBRETTE NOODLE CUTTING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1940 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LZzzraraZ/Imfire BY Z a ATTORNEY.

Nov. 5, 1940. c. AMBRETTE NOODLE CUTTING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1940 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Ill INVENTOR. GZnrazZJM/bw 0,

BY M

2070 W ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 5, 1940 NOODLE CUTTING MACHINE Conrad Ambrette, Brooklyn,N. Y assignor to Consolidated Macaroni Machine Corporation, Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application March 9, 1940, Serial No.323,095

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanism for cutting noodles;and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel machinefor such purpose which is equipped with 5 selective cutting mechanismadjustably movable relative to the dough feeding means of the machine,whereby the dough fed to the cutting mechanism may be cut to form noodlestrips of desired width sizes.

Alimentary paste products known to the trade as noodles comprise flatribbon-like strips of dough. The trade demands such noodle products invarious width sizes; as, for example, in width sizes of th inch, %thinch, V inch, inch, and,

15 in some instances, of even greater width.

It is an object of this invention to provide a noodle cutting machinehaving a dough feeding means and a novel cutting means cooperativetherewith, wherein said cutting means is provided with a series ofcutter roll sets respectively adapted to cut the dough into respectivelydifferent widths, together with means for selectively bringing thecutter roll sets into operative relation to the dough feeding means andinto opera- 25 tively engaged relation to power transmission means ofthe machine, whereby the selected cutter roll set is actuated incooperation with the dough feeding means.

Another object of this invention is to provide,

30 in a noodle cutting machine having a dough feeding means, a cutterroll carriage having a plurality of spaced cutter roll sets of differentsizes, said carriage being slidably movable in the machine frameworkrelative to the dough feeding 35 means, whereby a selected cutter rollset 'may'be operatively related both to the dough feeding means and tomeans for driving the selected cutter roll set; means being provided formanually moving the carriage to selected cutter roll set ad- 40 justingposition; and means being further provided for releasably'lockingthe'carriage in selected cutter roll set adjusting position.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means forreceiving the cut noodle strips 45 from the operative cutter roll set,severing the same to desired length, and thereupon discharging the sameoutwardly from the machine.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularlyenumerated, will be un- 59 derstood from the following detaileddescription of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the noodle cutting 55 machine madeaccording to this invention; Fig. 2

is a longitudinal vertical section through said machine; Fig. 31s atransverse vertical section, taken on line 33, in Fig. 1, but drawn onan enlarged scale; Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal'sectional view ofthe cutter roll carriage; and Fig. 5 is a 5 plan view of the cutter rollcarriage.

Referring to said drawings, the machine framework comprises a pair oflaterally spaced, longitudinally extending side frame members l0 formedto provide inwardly and horizontally pro- 1 jecting slideway flanges II, said side frame members l0 being secured together in spaced relationby tie-bolts l2 connected to and between corresponding end portionsthereof. Said side frame members ID are carried by suitably arranged legmembers 13. Extending along said side frame members II), to risetherefrom, are auxiliary side frame members ll, the same having inwardlyand horizontally projecting top flanges l5 spaced above the slidewayflanges ll of said side members l0.

Afiixed upon the top flanges I5 of said auxiliary side frame members ll,at. suitable locations intermediate .the ends thereof, and so as to risetherefrom in transversely opposed relation, are bearing standards l6.Journaled in and between the lower portions of said bearing standards Itis the shaft ll of a fixed transverse lower dough feed roll l8.Vertically slidable in upper portions of said bearing standards iii areadjustable bearing blocks l9, and journaledin and between said bearingblocks is the shaft 20 of an adjustable transverse upper dough feed roll2|, which is thus vertically opposed to said lower dough feed roll I8 soas to be capable of adjustment toward and from the latter, whereby todetermine the desired thickness of noodle dough sheet to be fed by saidrolls to the cutting mechanism of the machine.

Means for manually adjusting the upper feed roll 2| relative to thelower feed roll I8 is provided in cooperation with the movable bearingblocks 19. This means comprises rotatable jack screws 22 which arerespectively threaded into the respective bearing blocks IS, with theirupper end portions Journaled in and extending above the top ends of saidbearing standards l6, and disposed to project through a bridge plate 23aiiixed across and between the latter. Aflixed upon the upper ends ofsaid jack screws 22 are bevel pinions 24. Mounted on the bridge plate 23are bearing brackets 25, and journaled in and between said bearingbrackets is a shaft 26 upon which are fixed drive bevel pinions 21 tooperatively mesh with said jack screw pinions 24. Afllxed upon anexternal end of said shaft 28 is a hand wheel 28 by means of which theshaft may be manually .actuated to transmit, through the intermediategearing and jack screws, movement to the bearing blocks I9 to raise orlower .the same as the case may be, whereby to adjust the upper feedroll relative to the lower feed roll for attainment of desiredpredetermined spaced relation of said rolls.

Journaled in and between the side frame members Ill, at a suitablelocation intermediate the ends thereof, is the main drive shaft 29 ofthe machine. Said drive shaft may be suitably driven from any suitablesource of power, but preferably is driven from and by an electric motor30 suitably mounted beneath the side frame structure in connection withthe machine frame work. Fixed on said drive shaft 29 is a drive sprocket3| of suitable size, which is driven by a transmission chain 32 from asprocket operated by the motor shaft.

Said dough feed rolls lB-Zl are driven from said main drive shaft 29,and to .this end a drive pinion 33 is fixed on said drive shaft 29 tomesh with a drive gear wheel 34 which is fixed on the shaft ll of thelower feed roll I8 so as to drive the latter. The shaft of the upperfeed roll 2| is driven from the shaft ll of said lower feed roll byintermediate meshing gears 35 and 36 respectively fixed on the shaft l1and the shaft 20.

Suitably supported from the machine framework, to project from an endthereof, are laterally spaced supporting brackets 31 having bear-' ingnotches 38. These brackets serve to rotatably support the journals 39 ofa carrying'roll 40 upon which is wound a length of sheeted noodle dough4i desired to be fed by the feed rolls l8--2l to the needle cuttingmechanism of the machine.

From the supply of sheeted dough 4| the dough sheet S is led to andpassed between the feed rolls l82l so as to be gripped and advanced bythe latter, while at the same time, due to the adjusted relativelyspaced setting of said feed rolls, the dough sheet is also reduced to adesired predetermined thickness preparatory to being cut into noodleforming strips of desired width. In order to detach the dough sheetissuing from between the rolls l8-2l, should the same accidentallyadhere to one or the other thereof, suitably supported stripper plates42 and 43 are provided to respectively cooperate with the upper roll 2|and the lower roll IS. The stripper plate 43 inclines downwardly awayfrom the discharge side of the rolls so as to also guide the issuingdough sheet to and over a fixed guide plate 44 beneath which a selectedcutter roll set desired to be used is operatively located.

The selective cutting mechanism comprises a carriage formed by a pair oflaterally opposed and spaced side plates 45 which are joined together bytransverse tie-rods 46 connected to and between corresponding endportions thereof. The lower edges of said carriage side plates 45 areslidably supported upon the respective inner marginal portions ofslideway flanges H of the side frame members to, so that the carriagemay be moved longitudinally of the machine, and relative to the point ofdelivery of the dough sheet issued by the feed rolls l8--2l and over theguide plate 44.

Mounted to extend transversely between said side plates 45 so as to becarried by the carriage are a plurality of sets of cutter rolls,indicated in the drawings respectively by the reference charshaft widthsize, e. g. the set A being sized to cut strips of th inch in width, theset E to th inch width, the set C to inch width and the set D to /2 inchwidth. These dimensions are cited for purposes of illustration, and itwill be understood that varying dimensions of different measurement maybe employed if desired. Furthermore, while the drawings show but foursets of cutter rolls, it will be obvious that more or less than foursets may be provided if desired.

Each set of cutter rolls comprises a pair of opposed cooperating rollscomprising, a forward cutter roll 41 and a somewhat relatively elevatedrearward cutter roll 48 respectively provided with annular cutter bladeportions 49 and 50 adaptedto interlap one another. Said cutter bladeportions are of such width and relative spacing as to correspond to thewidth of the noodle strip desired to be cut thereby. The cutter rolls 41and 48 are respectively mounted on shafts 5| and 52, the ends of whichare journaled in the carriage side plates 45. Fixed on correspondingends of the shafts 5| and 52 are intermeshing gears 53 and 54, wherebythe cutter rolls may be relatively rotated in opposite directions, as e.g. the cutter roll 41 in clockwise direction and the cutter roll 48 inanticlockwise direction.

Means for advancing and retracting the cut ter roll carriage at will, tooperatively dispose a selected pair of cutter rolls for reception of thedough sheet issued by the feed rolls l82 I, comprises, rack bar means 55affixed to one or both carriage side plates 45 to depend therefrominwardly of the slideway flanges ll of the machine side frame members[0. Journaled in and between said side frame members ID is a transverse55 upon which are fixed one or more pinions 51 to operatively mesh withsaid rack bar means 55. Ailixed upon an external end of said shaft 56 isa hand wheel 58 by means of which the shaft may be manually turned totransmit, through the pinion and rack bar means, adjusting movements tothe cutter roll carriage, whereby to bring a selected set of cutterrolls into operative dough sheet receiving position.

Means for locking the cutter roll carriage against displacement from agiven adjusted position disposing a selected set of cutter rolls inoperative dough sheet receiving position comprises, a series of lock pinreceiving openings 59 provided in a carriage side plate 45 andrespectlvely located for effective relation to the respective cutterroll sets. Fixed upon a top flange I5 of an auxiliary side frame memberI4 is an upstanding supporting piece 50 having laterally spaced bearingears 6|. Pivotally supported by said bearing ears 6| is a releasablelock lever, the upwardly projecting arm 62 of which constitutes amanipulating arm opposed to said supporting piece, and the lower arm 63of which constitutes a lock arm provided, adjacent to its free end witha projecting lock pin 64 adapted to be entered in a lock pin receivingopening 59 which is opposed thereto by desired adjustment of the cutterroll carriage. Said top flange l5 of said auxiliary side frame I4 issuitably cut-away to permit said lock arm 63 to project downwardlytherethrough adjacent to the exterior face of the carriage side plate inwhich the lock pin receiving openings are provided. Compression springmeans 65 is arranged between the supporting piece 60 and themanipulating arm 82, wherebythe lock lever is yieldably maintained inlooking relation to the cutter roll carriage.

Means for operatively driving the effectively located set of cutterrolls from the main drive shaft 28 comprises, a transmission gear 88with which the drive gear 58 of the forward cutter roll 41 of theselected set of cutter rolls is brought into mesh by the adjustingmovement of the carriage effective to bring said selected set of cutterrolls into operative position. Said transmission gear 86 is fixed on theinner end of a drive sleeve or hollow shaft 61 which is rotatablymounted on an end portion of the transverse shaft 58. Fixed on the outerend of said sleeve is a sprocket 68 'driven by a chain 88 from a drivesprocket 18 afilxed upon said main drive shaft 29.

Cooperative with each cutter roll of the several sets thereof arestripper comb plates H having stripper fingers toenter between thecutter blade portions thereof so as to bear against the roll surface andstrip away therefrom any out dough tending to adhere thereto. Saidstripper comb plates 1| are carried by rocker bars 12 journaled in andbetween the carriage side plates 45, and the stripper fingers of saidcomb plates are held in tensionaily bearing relation to the cutter rollsserved thereby by means of adjustable thrust screws 13 which arethreaded through supporting lugs 14 affixed to and projecting from theinner sides of said carriage side plates 45. Said thrust screws 13 aredisposed to bear against the lower marginal portions of the comb platessoas to so swing the same, as pivoted by the carrying rocker bars I2,that the extremities of the stripper fingers are in turn swung towardand pressed against the cutter rolls.

Means for severing the noodle strips issuing from an operative cutterroll set is located below the working position of the latter. This meanscomprises a stationary cutter bar'l5 supported by and to extend betweenbearing hangers 16 which are secured to and dependent from the sideframe members III of the machine. Cooperative with said stationarycutter bar 15 is a rotary cutter member 11 journaled in and between saidbearing hangers l6. Aflixed to said rotary cutter member 11 is a cutterblade I8 adapted during revolution thereof to make shearing engagementwith said stationary cutterbar 15. Said rotary cutter member 11 isdriven by a chain and sprocket transmission 19 connected between saiddrive shaft 29 and a journal extension 80 of said cutter member 11. Aguide plate 8| is arranged to extend to the noodle strip severing meansfrom a point adjacently below the operative cutter roll set.

Means is provided for discharging the severed noodle strips outwardlfrom the machine. This means comprises a receiving endless conveyerrunning transversely of the machine so as to discharge the noodles froma side of the machine. Said conveyer comprises a pair of spaced sideguide plates 82 suspended by hanger bars 83 from the side frame membersl0 of the machine.

Journaled in and between said pair of side guide plates 82, at one endthereof, is a driven pulley ley 83 through meshing bevel gears 88 and88. Said transmission shaft 88 is'driven by a chain and sprockettransmission 8| connected between said drive shaft 28 and saidtransmission shaft 88. Supported by said hanger bars 88 are partitionside walls 82, between which is arranged an end wall 88, thus providinga severed noodle receiving compartment the bottom of which is formed bythe effective course of the conveyer belt 86.

From the above description it will be understood that this inventionprovides a very eiiicient noodle cutting machine readily and quicklyadaptable to cut noodles in various desired strip widths. I am awarethat many changes may be made in the construction and details of thesamewithout departing from the scope of the invention as defined by thefollowing claims. It is therefore intended that the constructionsdescribed and shown are to be interpreted as illustrative and not inalimiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a noodle cutting machine, a framework, dough sheet feed rollsmounted in connection with said framework, a cutter roll carriageslidably supported in connection with said framework, longitudinallyspaced sets of cutter rolls of respectively different cutting sizesoperativel supported by said carriage and selectively disposable, bymoving said carriage, in position to receive and. operate upon a doughsheet fed thereto by said feed rolls, and releasable means for holdingsaid carriage against displacement when a selected set of cutter rollsis thus operativeiy related to said feed rolls.

2. In a noodle cutting machine, a framework, dough sheet feed rollsmounted in connection with said framework, a cutter roll carriageslidably supported in connection with said framework, longitudinallyspaced sets of cutter rolls of respectively different cutting sizesoperatively supported by said carriage and selectively disposable, bymoving said carriage, in position to receive and operate upon a doughsheet fed thereto by said feed rolls, releasable means for holding saidcarriage against displacement when a selected set of cutter rolls isthus operatively related to said feed rolls, and means located beneaththe position of an operatively disposed cutter roll set effective tosever the noodle strips issuing from the latter into desired lengths.

3. In a noodle cutting machine, a framework, dough sheet feed rollsmounted in connection with said framework, a cutter roll carriageslidably supported in connection with said framework, longitudinallyspaced sets of cutter rolls of respectively different cutting sizesoperatively supported by said carriage and selectively disposable, bymoving said carriage, in position to receive and operate upon a doughsheet fed thereto by said feed rolls, releasable means for holding saidcarriage against displacement when a selected set of cutter rolls isthus operatively related to said feed rolls, means located beneath theposition of an operatively disposed cutter roll set effective to severthe noodle strips issuing from the latter into desired lengths, and aconveyer means to receive the severed noodle strips and to thereupondischarge the same outwardly of the machine.

4. In a noodle cutting machine, a framework,

dough sheet feed rolls mounted inconnection with said framework, a powerdriven drive shaft, transmission means actuated by said drive shaft foroperating said feed rolls, a cutter roll carriage 1| slidably supportedin connection with said framework, longitudinally spaced sets of cutterrolls of respectively different cutting sizes operatively supported bysaid carriage and selectively disposable, by moving said carriage, inposition to receive and operate upon a dough sheet fed thereto by saidfeed rolls, each set of cutter rolls comprising a pair of opposed rollshaving interlapping annular cutter blade portions, the opposed rollshaving intermeshing gears for rotating the same in relatively oppositedirections, a cutter roll drive gear adapted to operatively engage thegearing of a cutter roll set disposed to receive a dough sheet fedthereto by said feed rolls, transmission means actuated by said driveshaft for operating said cutter roll drive gear, and releasable meansfor holding said carriage against displacement when a selected set ofcutter rolls is operatively disposed relative to said dough sheet feedrolls and withits gearing operativelyengaged by said cutter roll drivegear.

5. In a noodle cutting machine, a framework, dough sheet feed rollsmounted in connection with said framework, a power driven drive shaft,transmission means actuated by said drive shaft for operating said feedrolls, a cutter roll carriage slidably supported in connection with saidframework, longitudinally spaced sets of cutter rolls of respectivelydifferent cutting sizes operatively supported by said carriage andselectively disposable, by moving said carriage, in position to receiveand operate upon a dough sheet fed thereto by said feed rolls, each setof cutter rolls comprising a pair of opposed rolls having interlappingannular cutter blade portions, the opposed rolls having intermeshinggears for rotating the same in relatively opposite directions, a cutterroll drive gear adapted to operatively engage the gearing of a cutterroll set disposed to receive a dough sheet fed thereto by said feedrolls, transmission means actuated by said drive shaft for operatingsaid cutter roll drive gear, releasable means for holding said carriageagainst displacement when a selected set of cutter rolls is operativelydisposed relative to said dough sheet feed rolls and with its gearingoperatively engaged by said cutter roll drive gear, means locatedbeneath the position of an operatively disposed cutter roll seteffective to sever the noodle strips issuing from the latter intodesired lengths, and transmission means actuated by said drive shaft foroperating said severing means. a

6. In a noodle cutting machine, a framework, dough sheet feed rollsmounted, in connection with said framework, a power driven drive shaft,transmission means actuated by said drive-shaft for operating said feedrolls, a cutter roll carriage slidably supported in connection with saidframe-work, longitudinally spaced sets of cutter rolls of respectivelydifferent cutting sizes operatively supported by said carriage andselectively disposable, by moving said carriage, in position to receiveand operate upon a dough sheet fed thereto by said feed rolls, each setof cutter rolls comprising a pair of opposed rolls having interlappingannular cutter blade portions, the opposed rolls having intermeshinggears for rotating the same in relatively opposite directions, a cutterroll drive gear adapted to operatively engage the gearing of a cutterroll set disposed to receive a dough sheet fed thereto by said feedrolls, transmission means actuated by said drive shaft for operatingsaid cutter roll drive gear, releasable means for holding said carriageagainst displacement when a selected set of cut- H ter rolls isoperatively disposed relative to said dough sheet feed rolls and withits gearing operatively engaged by said cutter roll drive gear, meanslocated beneath the position of an operatively disposed cutter roll seteffective to sever the the noodle strips issuing from the latter intodesired lengths, transmission means actuated by said drive shaft foroperating said severing means, a conveyer means to receive the severednoodle strips and to thereupon discharge the same outwardly of themachine, and transmission means actuated by said drive shaft foroperating said conveyer means.

7. A noodle cutting machine as defined by claim 1, including means tomove the cutter roll 'carriage comprising, a hand wheel equippedmanually rotatable shaft, rack bar means afiixed to said carriage, andpinion means on said shaft to mesh with said rack bar means.

8. A noodle cutting machine as defined by claim 4, including means tomove the cutter roll carriage comprising, a hand wheel equipped manuallyrotatable shaft, rack bar means affixed to said carriage, and pinionmeans on said shaft to mesh with said rack bar means.

CONRAD AMBRETTE.

